Soap-fi



H. A. STAAB.

SOAP FLAKER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1918.

1 3 1 4,026 Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

ATTORNEY HENRY A. STAAB, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SOAP-FLAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented All. 26, 1919.

Application filed November 30, 1918. Serial No. 264,829.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. STAAB, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soap- Flakers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in cutting devices, more particularly of that type including a body plate over which an article to be cut is slid for engagement by blades upstanding from the plate. It is the object of my invention to provide a device of this character which is particularly adapted for cutting bars of soap into ribbons or flakes for laundry pur: poses, and it is more particularly my object to provide a device of this character where by the cutting operation may be most conveniently and rapidly carried out.

A further object resides in the provision of a device of this character which may be manufactured in a most economical manner consistent with desired strength and duraplate of the device which also serve as guides for the soap or other article to be cut.

A still further object resides in the provision of a device of this character which is formed from a rectangular body blank of metal whereby any wastage of metal in the stamping operation is entirely avoided.

A still further object resides in the provision of an improved blade formation struck from the body plate, whereby hardened edges for the blades are procured incidental to the forming operation.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts -as hereinafter more particularly described and defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the body blank from which my improved soap flaker is formed.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the completed de vice.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view therethrough on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

5 is a detailed view showing the formation the blade portions.

teferring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, it is noted that the body plate 10 of the device is stamped out in rectangular shape whereby wastage of metal is entirely avoided. The blank is provided adjacent one end with slits a each extending inwardly from its side edge a distance substantially equal to one quarter of the width of the blank, and the sides of said end portion of the blank are bent on fold lines Z) extending longitudinally from the inner ends of the slits to the extremity of the blank, thus forming a reduced tongue 11 of double thickness, the bent portion of the blank lying at the under surface of the tongue. This tongue is bent downwardly from the slits a and then bent reversely to form a channel 12 for receiving the edge of a tub or other support on which it is desired to rest the device, the extremity of the tongue being directed inwardly at 13 to en gage the body of the blank, to which it is preferably soldered to effect a rigid structure.

For reinforcing the body plate, and at the same time affording guides for soap or other work material which is slid thereon, and for providing a handle for the device, a length of relatively thick wire is provided which is bent in an elongated U-shape, the legs l l of the wire being disposed on the body plate and secured thereto by rolling the side portions of the body plate thereabout at 15, while the bight of the wire projects from the end of the body plate remote from the tongue 11. The end of the body blank remote from the tongue 11 is provided with short longitudinal slits 0 inwardly of the rolled portions, and the material bounded by said slits is bent backwardly when inwardly on the blank at 17 to reinforce said end portion. The knife portions of the device are formed by tongues struck upwardly from the body plate and extending transversely between the rolled portions 15, the spaces formed by striking said tongues pern'iitting passage of cut material through the body plate. I preferably provide a set of three knife tongues 18, two of said tongues being spaced apart and alined transversely of the body plate, While the remaining tongue is disposed centrally iii , tongues.

of soap or the like which is slid upon the J body plate, and 'procures an even flake or ribbon of the cut. material.

In forming thetongues, male and female dies '21 and 10 respectively are provided, the

' male die being provided with a punch projection w, while the female die is provided with a recess 3 which receives the punch projection, the inner face of the recess y conforming to'the knife bevel which it is desired'to impart to the knife tongue and being hence disposed parallel to the body plate engaging the face of the female die. Thus, referring particularly to Fig. 5, it is seen that as the tongue is formed by the dies, its free edge portion will be afforded a knife bevel, the metal of said free edge portion being thus compressed as it is shaped, to harden the same and present a durable knife edge.

By the aforedescribed general construction, an exceedingly simple and cheap, yet durable and efficient cutting device has thus been provided which is particularly adapted for cutting or flaking soap into a washtub. In the use of the device, the operator stands over a tub, grasping the handle end of the device with one hand, the channel 12 of Copies of this patent may be obtained for blank provided with inwardly extending slits adjacent one end, the side portions of the blank outwardly of the slits being bent back upon the blank to form a reinforced tongue, said reinforced tongue being bent to provide a channel for receiving the edge of a support, and knife members carried by the body blank.

2. A cutting device comprising abody plate forming a slideway, an elongated U- shaped length of wire disposed thereon, with its .bight extended beyond one end portion of the body plate and its legs terminating short of the other end portion of the body plate, the side portions of the body plate being rolled about the legs of said U-shaped length of wire, said other end portion of the body plate being bent to form a channel portion for receiving the upper edge of a support, and knife members carried by the'body plate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

HENRY A. STAAB.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissio'nerof Patents. Washington, D. G. 

